Method of applying rails and track spike therefor



Um. 26 1926 1 604506 8. M. CHENEY METHOD OF APPLYING RAILS AND TRACK SPIKE THEREFOR Filed May 27, 1926 JEZU JZ g/fan fffflg Patented Get, 26, 1926.

BYRON M. CHENEY, OF LA GRANGE, ILLINDIS.

METHOD OF APPLYING RAILS AND TRACK SPIKE THEREFOR.

Application filed may 27,

My invention relates to track spikes'and more particularly to spikes for applying railroad track, an object being to provide an improved spike of the above character having certain features and advantages in construction and use. v

In spikes as heretofore used, when driven into, thetie the head comes in contact with the top of the rail base. When the spike is driven into the tie the wood fibre on all sidesof the spike shank is bent down at an angle acting as a brace to retain or hold the spike down. 'As trafiic moves over the track there is an upward and downward movement and to a greater or less? extent a forward movement of the rails. This move ment is commonly known as wave motion. The upward movement of the rail either results in the spike being pulled'up or if the holding power of the tie is suflicient, in the tie moving ;up with the rail. When the spike is pulled it is common practice for the men to redrive them sothat' the head again has contact with the rail. Due to the wave motion of the rail they are again pulled and again redriven, the result being that this alternate pulling and redriving ofthe spikes, breaks, bends or wears off the points of the wood fibre surrounding the shank of the spike to such an extent that finally littlejf any holding power is left and many spikes may be pulled with the. fingers. In time the "spike hole is enlarged to such an extent that moisture readily ets into the heart of the tie and decay quic ly follows, thus necessitating the replacement of the decayed tie. Also the enlargingof the spike holes by the constant pulling and re-driving of the spikes permits a spread ing of the rails. Also due to the filing action of the rail as it moves up and down throat cut spikes are quite common, that is the wearing away of the spike at the throat or just beneath the head, thus weakening the spike. 'Also-hy driving the heads down so that it comes in contact with the top of the rail base as heretofore done, the spike heads are frequently broken. This also occurs sometimes by the pulling action of the rail. Also when the spikes are pulled as stated by-the wave motion of the rail, the tie plate is not held against the tie when the rail moves upwardly so there is an objectionable rattle of the tie plates un'der traific.

If on the other hand, the spikeshave enough holding power "to resist being 1926. Eerie no. 112,012.

pulled, then the tie .moves upward and downward with the rail and this condition is objectionable because it results in the mechanical wear of the tie and in wet weather causes puddling, which in turn causes rough track.

All of these objections are overcome either entirely or to a large degree by my- Fig. ,2is a perspective view of the one form of spike; and

liiig. 3 shows another modified form of spi e.

Referring now more in detail to the form of spike A as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the shank 5 may be of any suitable design, either with some. locking means or with smooth flat sides. A suitable head 6 may be provided and laterally extending from the shank of the spike I provide shouldered stops 78 which may be suitably shaped and positioned so as to engage either the tie plate 9 or tie 10 and prevent the head 6 from coming in contact with the top surface 11 of the rail base when the spike is driven into the tie.

As shown at spike A when driven into the tie contacts with the edge of the rail base thereby properly aligning the rail on the tie and preventing spreading thereot- However, the shouldered stops 7-8 are so positioned beneath the head 6 of the spike that sulficient clear, ance 12 is provided so that the spike head is kept sufficiently clear of the rail to allow the ordinary wave motion thereof from ,tratfic without causing the rail'to pull the At the same time the spike from the tie. ears 7 because of contact with the tie plate when used, hold the tie plate firmly against in Fig. l, the spike the-tie and thus prevent the otherwise wearing action upon the tie by the movement of the tie' lateand also reduces the noise or rattle ot the tie plate under trafic'.

Also the objectionable pulling and re:

driving of the spike is eliminated and the spike firmly maintained in the tie so that the objectionable wear of the spike hole is eliminated, thereby minimizing the spreadg neoesoe ing'oi the rails, loose spikes and decay of the ties as hereinbefore described.

Also because of the extra metal added to the throat of the spike, the wear at the throat because of the movement of the rail does not reduce the strength: of the. spike to a dangerous point as heretofore.

Thus the use of this spike also avoids the trouble and expense of re-dfiving the spikes. Other advantages Will also be apparent with. an understanding of the invention.

in spike A of Fig. 2 l have shown holdin or retaining means in the shank of the spike in the form of a shouldered recess 13 which is formed in the faces of the spike at suitable places at the same time leaving the corners of the spike uninterrupted so as to permit driving the spike without making a hole larger than the body of the spike.

These recesses i3 are formed in the other- Wise ions fist sides of the shank and slenv ed downiwi'rdly and inwardly as indicated in Fig. 2 so as toprovide 11 holding shoulder at the bottom. Thus when the spike is driven into the tie the wood lihre will spring back into the recess and thereby ossist in more positively holding the spike than it plain fiat sides Were provided.

However. it is to be understood that l contemplate using the spike both with Without such holding means and my invention is by no means limited to this extent.

Referring now to the form oi spike ll as shown ".t the right of Fig. l, in this orrangcnient the stop shouldes 15 appears at the heck of the spike instead of at the sides as shown in the otherform. in this form B this stop shoulder is so positioned beneath the head of the spike that engages either the tie plate ,9 when usedor the tie l0 no tie plate is used. but keeps the head ii suficiently clear of the rail base so as to permit the normal movement thereofi Without pulling the spike.

What- It claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is l. spike constructed so that the edge only of the rail base can come into engagement with the spike when driven into the tie and While remaining there.

2. A track spike constructed so that the edge only of the rail base can come into engagement With the spike when driven into the tie and While remaining there including a stop shoulder to limit the insertion of the spike in the tie. v

3. A track spike-constructed so that the edge only of the rail hose can be engaged and the spike guarded against being pulled up by the Wave motion of the rail.

4. A. track spike having a stop shoulder to limit the insertion of the spike in the is and permit free wave motion of the rail Without Withdrawing the spike from the tie.

5. A treck spike having etie engaging stop shoulder to positively prevent the head of the spike from engaging the top of the rail base when the spike is driven into the tie and While remsiningthere;

(3. A. track spike having av shouidered stop for engaging the tie or tie plate and positioned suliiciently beneath the spike head to positively. prevent the hes-d from. engaging the top of. the rail base when the spike is driven into the tie and to prevent the rail base top from engaging the head.

7. A track spike having a. stop shoulder for engaging the tie plate to hold it firmly against the tie independent of the rail and positioned sufi'iciently beneath the spike head to keep the head from engaging the top of the rail base when the spike is driven into the tie end provide suflicient clearance whereby the mil is permitted to move vertically under traiiic Without pulling the spike but the tie plate is firmly held against the tie.

8. A. track spike having a. stop shoulder to prevent thehead of the spike tit-0:11 engaging the top of the rail base and having shouldered holding recesses formed in the otherwise list sides of the shank.-

ln Witness whereof; I hereunto subscribe my name this 24 de of May, 1926.

Bh'EQN M. CHEN 

